Device for distributing substances

ABSTRACT

A device for distributing substances includes distribution container ( 1 ) receiving a substance. The container has a closing unit ( 3 ) provided with a canula ( 11 ) for the substance to be distributed. The outer end ( 15 ) of the canula protrudes from the closing unit ( 3 ). A safety device ( 5, 17 ) can alternate between a protective state in which it covers the outer end ( 15 ) of the canula ( 11 ), and a user state for the distribution of the substance from the canula ( 11 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for distributing substances. Aprimary, but not exclusive, application of the device involvesdelivering a desired volume of a medium, especially a liquid medium,into a receptacle. Preferably, the medium to be delivered is an additivewhich is introduced, for example, as an admixture of an activeingredient into a fluid located in the receptacle. The receptacle can bean infusion container with contents with which the medium is to beadmixed as an additional active ingredient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, the delivery device is conventionally a syringe with ahypodermic needle which punctures the perforable closure or plug of thereceptacle, for example, an infusion container. After puncture, bypressing the syringe, the medium is injected into the receptacle. Inthis process the preparatory working step of filling the syringe isnecessary, in which the desired amount of the medium from a storagecontainer is transferred into the syringe or the syringe is filled froma conventional vial which contains the measured dose of the pertinentmedium. These working steps of transfer are on the one handtime-consuming, because the hypodermic needle and syringe must beunwrapped, the hypodermic needle mounted on the syringe, the vial openedor punctured and the syringe must be drawn up. On the other hand, inthese measures, a major risk exists of contamination of the medium.Another problem in these delivery devices is the danger of injury towhich the user is exposed during handling and which may be caused by thetip of the hypodermic needle. In this respect, a known delivery device,disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,618, includes a safety device which hasa safety body covering the end of the hypodermic needle and which can bemoved from the effective protective state into the inactive stateintended for delivery of the medium from the hypodermic needle. For thispurpose, the safety body can be pushed along the hypodermic needlebetween an advanced protective position on the end of the hypodermicneedle and the retracted state of use.

The disadvantage in this known device is that there are no provisionsagainst unintentional movement into the position of use, in which theend of the hypodermic needle projects exposed. The known device can onlybe safeguarded after completed use by fitting the tip of the hypodermicneedle in a receiving recess of the safety body after it has beenadvanced beyond the tip of the hypodermic needle after use of thedevice. The known device is therefore unsatisfactory from the standpointof safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objects of the present invention are to provide a device which offersincreased safety against injuries during transport, storage and use.

These objects are basically achieved in the present invention by adelivery device which has a protective cover which can be removed fromthe delivery container and which encloses the end of the hypodermicneedle. Not only is the danger of unintentionally pushing back thesafety body of the safety device avoided, but in addition increasedprotection against contamination is achieved.

If the outer end of the hypodermic needle is designed to penetrate theperforable closure of the container which holds the medium which is tobe delivered, when the closure is punctured the safety body can bepushed back by contact with it out of its advanced protective positionon the end of the hypodermic needle into the position of use. After thehypodermic needle is pulled out of the closure, the safety body can bepushed forward again into the protective position. In this embodimenthandling is especially simplified.

Preferably, the protective cover has a finger-grip knob as purchase fortwisting the protective cover off of the delivery container.

As the safety body, the safety device can have an annular body movablyguided on the section of the hypodermic needle projecting out of theclosing unit. The annular body is connected to the closing unit by anelastic holding means which produces a holding force, is held byforce-fit by the holding force of the holding means in the advancedprotective position covering the end of the hypodermic needle, and canbe pushed back against the holding force along the hypodermic needleinto the position of use. The indicated annular body on its free faceforms an annular broadened contact surface projecting on the forwardpoint of the safety device radially over its other parts. By way of thewidened contact surface, reliable contact behavior of the annular bodywith the puncturable point of the container on its removal openingresults. Furthermore, as a result of the contact surface, when theperforable closure of the delivery container is punctured, thehypodermic needle cannot jam or be damaged on the sensitive tip.

The holding means can be formed by support elements which are divided bymeans of joints and which are articulated to the annular body and theclosing unit, respectively. In the protective position, the supportelements extend essentially parallel to the hypodermic needle. When theannular body is pushed back into the position of use along thehypodermic needle, the support elements extend in the position which isspread out from the hypodermic needle.

Preferably, the support elements are rod-like plastic parts, are moldedin one piece to the closing unit, and are divided by bending joints atapproximately half the length. In this execution, the inherentelasticity of the material of the support elements makes it possible forthe annular body to be advanced automatically again at least partiallyagainst the front end of the hypodermic needle after being pushed backinto the position of use, for the annular body therefore to returnautomatically back into the protective position, or after using thedevice for it to be advanced simply slightly farther forward. Since thebending joints can completely fold down laterally, the rod-like plasticparts which form the respective bending joint are placed in contact ontop of one another so that a high penetration depth of the hypodermicneedle into the delivery container can be achieved. Also perforableclosures with the corresponding thicknesses of the delivery containercan thus be punctured in a controlled manner by the hypodermic needle.

In one especially advantageous embodiment, the closing unit bears a snapring which encloses the support elements and which can be removed fromthe closing unit and can be pushed along the support elements towardtheir bending joints to lock them in the position corresponding to theprotective position. Catch notches can be provided on the bending jointsinto which the snap ring can snap so that the safety device isdetachably locked in the protective position in which the annular bodyprotectively encloses the outer end of the hypodermic needle.

The delivery container can be a plastic container produced using theknown Bottelpack® process. The closing unit as an insert part isinserted into its open end before closing by means of the protectivecover.

The body of the insert part in the central area contains the hypodermicneedle which is located continuously in it. Its inner end projectsslightly out of the body of the closing unit against the interior of thedelivery container. The insert part, which forms the closing unit, has amembrane as a blocking element between the facing inner end of thehypodermic needle and the medium which is located in the deliverycontainer. If the pressure of the medium which is located in thedelivery container is increased, the blocking element is pressed againstthe end of the hypodermic needle and is punctured by it.

The increase of the pressure of the medium and the resulting puncturingof the membrane can be implemented by compressing the deliverycontainer.

Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description, which,taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a delivery device according to anembodiment of the present invention in an operating state before use,i.e., with the protective cover mounted;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view in section of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view in section of the device of FIG. 1,but with the protective cover removed;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view in section of the device of FIG. 1 inan operating state where the device has been pushed into the perforableclosure stopper of an infusion container;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view in section of the device of FIG. 1 inan operating state where the delivery container of the device is beingsqueezed out;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view in section of the device of FIG. 1 inan operating state where the delivery container has been squeezed outand withdrawn from the closure stopper, and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view in section of the device of FIG. 1 inan operating state where the delivery container has been squeezed outand which corresponds to the protective position of the safety device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the drawings, the delivery container is designated as a whole as 1.It is an ampule-like plastic container which has been produced using theknown Bottelpack® process. The delivery container has a wall 2 providedwith folds and made bellows-like, so that the delivery container 1 canbe squeezed out from the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 to thatshown in FIGS. 5 to 7. In the neck area, a closing unit 3 is insertedinto the delivery container 1 as an insert part. Several components aremolded onto the body of the closing unit which is molded from plastic.Among others, a safety device 17 is provided, which, before using thedelivery device, is protected by a protective cover 5 molded on at apredetermined breakage point 7, see FIGS. 1 and 3, to the body of thedelivery container 1. The cover has a laterally projecting finger-gripknob 9 which is used as purchase to twist the protective cover 5 off thedelivery container 1 at the predetermined breakage point 7. FIG. 3 showsthe same operating state of the device as FIGS. 1 and 2, but with theprotective cover 5 removed.

As is especially apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3, the body of the closingunit 3 in the central area is penetrated by the hypodermic 11 needle.The needle inner end 12 projects slightly to the inside of the deliverycontainer from the body of the closing unit 3. Between the inner end 12of the hypodermic needle 11 and the interior of the delivery container1, there is a membrane 13 which is part of the insert part of theclosing unit 3.

The hypodermic needle extends from the outer end of the body of theclosing unit 3 to a length which corresponds approximately to the lengthof the syringe hypodermic needle. FIGS. 2, 3, and 7 show operatingstates in which the projecting outer end 15 of the hypodermic 11 needleis covered, i.e., protected, by safety device 17 which is in itsprotective position.

The safety device 17 is molded in one piece to the body of the closingunit 3 and has an annular body 19 which can be moved on the hypodermicneedle 11 and is located in the protective position (see FIGS. 2, 3, and7) on the outer end 15 of the hypodermic needle 11 to cover this end ofthe hypodermic needle, i.e., the tip of the needle. The annular body 19is connected in one piece to the body of the closing unit 3 by supportelements 21 of a rod-like shape which are molded on in one piece. Theconnecting points of the support elements to the annular body 19 and thebody of the closing unit 3 are flexible in the manner of bending joints.In addition, at approximately half of the length of the support elements21, bending joints divide the support elements 21. If the annular body19 is pushed out of the protective position into the position of use ofthe device along the hypodermic needle 11, see FIGS. 5 and 6, thesections of the support elements 21 bordering the bending joints 23swivel so that they are spread out from the hypodermic needle 11 and arefolded as is shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 4 show the device in the state in which the hypodermicneedle 11 with its front end 15 has punctured the perforable closure 25of an infusion container 26. Here, the annular body 19 is pushed backinto the position of use along the hypodermic needle 11 out of theprotective position aligned with the outer end 15 of the hypodermicneedle. By compressing the bellows-like wall 2 of the delivery container1 (see FIG. 5), the pressure of the medium it contains is increased sothat the membrane 13 is pressed against the facing inner end 12 of thehypodermic needle 11 and is punctured by it. Compressing the deliverycontainer 1 further leads to the medium contained in it being squeezedout into the infusion container 26 so that a dose of an additive oractive ingredient which corresponds to the contents of the deliverycontainer 1 is added to the contents of the infusion container 26.

FIG. 6 shows the operating state after the delivery container 1 has beensqueezed out and is withdrawn again from the closure 25 of the infusioncontainer 26. As a result of the inherent elasticity of the supportelements 21, the annular body 19, which had been pushed back beforehandout of the protective position when the hypodermic needle is insertedinto the closure 25 by contact therewith against the elasticity orholding force of the support elements 21, is automatically advancedagain by the force of elasticity in part against the end 15 of thehypodermic needle.

FIG. 7 shows the operating state of the device after its completed use.The projecting outer end 15 of the hypodermic needle 11 is secured againby the safety device 17, although the protective cover 5 is no longermounted. For this purpose, a snap ring 29 sits removably on the body ofthe closing unit 3, is removed from the closing unit, and is advancedalong the hypodermic needle 11. Sliding the snap ring over the supportelements 21 brings them out of the position shown in FIG. 6 to thehypodermic needle 11, with the annular body 19 being advanced as far asthe end 15 of the hypodermic needle 11. On the bending joints 23 thesupport elements 21 have molded catch notches 30 into which the snapring 29 fits (see FIG. 7).

After the snap ring 29 catches in the catch notches 30 on the bendingjoints 23 of the support elements 21, the hypodermic needle 11 iscovered by the annular body 19 which covers its end, in spite of theremoved protective cover 5. The now emptied device can then be safelydisposed of. The delivery device of the present invention can beadvantageously used, not only for adding the desired volumes of liquidmedia to infusion containers, but can also be used equally for thedelivery of liquid or gaseous and/or particle-laden media, to the extenttheir delivery by way of hypodermic needles is possible or necessary.

While an embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the invention, it willbe understood by those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications can be made therein without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A device for distributing substances, comprising: a deliverycontainer holding a pertinent medium, a closing unit on said deliverycontainer and having a hypodermic needle for delivering said medium,said hypodermic needle having an outer end projecting out of saidclosing unit a safety device having an annular body and being movablyguided a section of said hypodermic needle projecting from said closingunit between an active protective state covering said outer end of saidneedle and an inactive state exposing said outer end for delivery ofsaid medium from said hypodermic needle, said annular body being movableon said needle from said outer end of said needle in said activeprotective state to a position axially spaced from said outer end fordelivery of said medium and vice versa, said annular body beingconnected to said closing unit and elastically biased toward said activeprotective state by elastic support elements divided by bending jointsand articulated to said annular body and to said closing unit, saidsupport elements being substantially parallel to said hypodermic needlein said active protective position and being spread out from saidhypodermic needle in said inactive state, said support elementsextending in one piece from said closing unit to said annular body andbeing divided at approximate half lengths thereof by said bendingjoints; a snap ring removably mounted on said closing unit and movablealong said support elements to said bending joints to lock said supportelements in said active protective state; and a protective coverremovably coupled to said delivery container by a predetermined breakagepoint and enclosing said outer end of said hypodermic needle; wherebysaid hypodermic needle can penetrate a perforable closure of a receivingcontainer to deliver said medium into the receiving container, andwhereby said annular body is pushed back from said active protectivestate to said inactive state by contact with the perforable closure. 2.A device according to claim 1 wherein said protective cover has afinger-grip knob as purchase for twisting said protective cover off ofsaid delivery container.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein saidclosing unit has a membrane located in said delivery container, facingan inner end of said hypodermic needle and forming a blocking elementwhich can be pressed against and punctured by said inner end of saidneedle upon increasing pressure of said medium.
 4. A device according toclaim 3 wherein said delivery container has a deformable wall and can becompressed to increase pressure of said medium in said deliverycontainer.
 5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said deformable wallcomprises a folding bellows.
 6. A device according to claim 1 whereinsaid bending joints have notches to engage said snap ring.